Marco Permunian (Co-founder and U.S. Office Director of Italian Citizenship Assistance)
Dual citizenship is a very important topic for many members of the Italian American community. Through these years I’ve met and spoken with hundreds of Americans of Italian descent eager to officially become Italian citizens, ready to commit to an effort that requires patience, money, time and it is not easy at all. I always tell them that no mat...
Pamela Enzweiler-Pulice (Author of the documentary "The Dick Biondi Film")
The story of Dick Biondi is unknown to many. I didn't know about it myself, but today there is who is working on a documentary that will tell all Americans, and in particular those of Italian origin, about the life and career of the number one DJ in the United States in the early '60s, the first ever to play the Beatles on an American radio. Pamel...
Carol and Andrea Dottolo (Authors of the book "Italian American Women, Food, and Identity")
The topic of the presence of women in the homes of Italian American communities throughout the United States has always been fascinating, fundamental for the survival of the families of our compatriots in America, and somewhat underestimated. The topic of food is similar, equally important and links many other aspects of the life of the Italian Ame...
Roberto Ferragina (Historian)
Italy and the US experienced a multifaceted relationship from 1943 to 1955. After the war the US played a historic role in assisting Italy with rebuilding and planning its future. Threatening this effort, both within and beyond Italy’s borders, were communism and the Italian Communist Political Party (PCI). During the rebuilding of Italy the US...
Pamela D'Orazio Dean (Curator for Italian American History at the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, OH)
According to the latest available data, those of the 2000 census, Ohio is the eighth American state for population of Italian origin. Many of them reside in the northern part of the state, particularly in Cleveland, but not only. In our tour of "Italian America" today we stop right here, and meet Pamela D'Orazio Dean, who deals with the history of...
Davide Ceriani (Musicologist)
The topic we are addressing this time, among the many that trace the relationship between Italy and the United States from different angles, concerns Italian opera and the Italian Americans. Professor Davide Ceriani is a musicologist who teaches at Rowan University (Glassboro, NJ). A few months ago, he gave a multimedia presentation at the Library...
Michael J. Cross (President of the Comunità degli Italiani - St. Louis)
Oftentimes, Italian or Italian American associations at the center of a community in one of the many American cities are led by exceptional Italian American men or women who have gained over the years the experience necessary to preside over a community that recognizes itself in loving and celebrating Italy. They are sometimes white-haired leaders...
Jerome Krase (Author of America’s Little Italies: Past, Present and Future)
There is a fascination in the concept of Little Italy that still exists today, when many of these Italian neighborhoods are no longer there. Outdated, but only in some cities, the principle of physically limiting an area of the city according to Italian criteria, the concept of being together, making communities and proudly celebrating their origin...
Francesca Alderisi, Fucsia Fitzgerald Nissoli and Francesca La Marca (Members of the Italian Parliament elected in the US)
There are three members of the Italian Parliament elected in the foreign electoral colleges that include the United States: two members of the House deputies and a Senator. Their jurisdiction is enormous: in addition to the United States, it also includes Canada, Mexico and Central America. Campaigning in such a large territory is very difficult, j...
Monica Lapenta (President of the Italian Cultural Center of Maryland)
Many extremely interesting things are happening and will happen in the community that in Baltimore celebrates Italy and its cultural and artistic heritage. These activities, which have been running alongside others for some time, are carried out by the Italian Cultural Center of Maryland, thanks to a capable and committed staff led by an Italian wo...
Leslie Gigliotti (President of the Italian Folk Art Federation of America)
In the Italian American community, where traditions are a fundamental part of the rich cultural heritage that those who are part of it proudly claim, folklore has a particular importance, which is sometimes difficult to understand here from Italy, where we unfortunately often neglect the importance of our traditions. The Italian Folk Art Federation...
Alberto Zamperla (President of Zamperla Inc.)
America has always appreciated the creativity, ingenuity and manual skills of the Italians. These are qualities that have allowed many Italians to emigrate to the US, work hard, prove their skills, find their way, be successful. It has happened in every field, and the person we host today on We the Italians is a living example of this. Alberto Zamp...